I wrote a bit about the Kid when he received the diagnosis last year. He was a really great one; his career was a little short because he was worked so hard in Montreal, but at his peak he was one of the greatest catchers ever. I’m glad that the Nationals reversed their decision not to honor his retried number, and am glad that he will be permanently honored at the Bell Centre as well.

Keith Hernandez has a guote in that piece, which probably sums up how fans as well as players felt.

“We all disliked Gary when we played against him,” said Keith Hernandez, the star first baseman who became his teammate on the Mets. “He was just a little rah-rah varsity collegiate type, even though he didn’t go to college. But I respected him as a player. And when he came to New York, I appreciated him, too.”

I’m a Red Sox fan so I used to dislike him, but I would’ve loved having him in 86 instead of Rich Gedman.

How bout the trade that brought him to New York? Who did the Expos get? I can’t remember — that’s the point.

No, not as bad as I thought it was, not all-time bad — Hubie Brooks and Youmans had decent years with the Expos — but trading away a hall-of-famer with good years left, you’d like to get a great player or two in return.

Scott Lemieux

Yeah, it was a salary dump, although Brooks and even Fitzgerald had some decent years. My ultra fantasy baseball league was named after Herm Willingham…

Carter makes the Hall for basically two reasons: his longevity (most games caught by an NL catcher, most putouts by any catcher) and the fact that he made the Mets champs in 1986. I love the man something awful but even I realize he’s barely HoF quality.

Scott Lemieux

This is really silly. Carter was the best catcher in the major leagues for many years, and Lobmardi couldn’t carry his jock.

rea

Cochrane, though–Cochrane was awesome (at least until the damn Yankees tried to kill him, and almost succeeded).

Scott Lemieux

Yup, in terms of peak value Cochrane was one of the greatest, even though I believe in pretty severe era adjustments.